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For the Juniors: Making a rain gauge

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Boy holds funnel in a tall jug
For the Juniors: Making a rain gauge

SUBJECTS:  Science

YEARS:  F–2, 3–4


How do you feel about the rain?

This clip explains why rain is so important to farmers.

You will see how to make a rain gauge and use it to measure how much rain falls.

Farmers measure rainfall so they know when to do different jobs on their farms.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What things do seeds need to grow? How might changes in the weather affect farmers? What are some ways you could measure how much rain falls where you live?
  2. 2.Why are seeds planted after it rains on the farm? Why do farmers need to keep track of changes in the weather? Why does a rain gauge need lines marked on it? Why do you need to check it at the same time each day?
  3. 3.How does a farmer keep track of how much rain falls? What if farmers do not get enough rain when they need it? What might they do about this? What other weather changes might affect farmers?
  4. 4.Make a rain gauge like the one in the clip. Keep a graph of how much rain falls in one week. Record what the sky looks like each day. Do you notice a pattern?


Acknowledgements

Nature of Australia, Camera: David Parer.


Date of broadcast: 14 Aug 2000


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2020 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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